赵谦《声音文字通》卷数及性质考辨

A Study of the Number of Volumes and the Nature of Shengyin Wenzi Tong by Zhao Qian

赵谦《声音文字通》一书现存30卷,《四库全书总目》载"尚存三十二卷",《明史》等记载为100卷。孰是孰非,莫衷一是。现存《永乐大典》共采录《声音文字通》三百余条,为该书实为100卷提供了充分的证据。该书从语言学的角度看应是一部韵图韵书合编型辞书。

Abstract： Shengyin Wenzi Tong （A Dictionary of Sound and Character） prepared by Zhao Qian in the Ming dynasty is similar to dengyuntu（pronunciation table / the rhyme classified into four grades） in terms of framework, and it is termed quasi-dengyuntu by Geng Zhensheng. Its existing two versions are the 14-volume version of the Ming dynasty, housed by Peking University Library and the 30-volume Version of the Qing dynasty, in the collection of Sun Yat-sen University Library. It has been hard to confirm the exact total number of volumes of Shengyin Wenzi Tong. According to historical records, it is accepted that the total number is 100 volumes and 32 volumes respectively. The former number is specified in both A History of Ming Dynasty and Bibliography Compiled in the Hall of Qianqing by Huang Yuji, whereas the latter is specified in A General Catalogue of Authorized Siku Quanshu. However, A National History： The Classics Section by Jiao Hong indicates only 12 volumes. A sentence written in Volume 285 of A History of Ming Dynasty ; Biographies of Literary Writers reveals an important piece of information that Shengyin Wenzi Tong is collected and recorded in Yongle Dadian （The Great Encyclopedia in the Reign of Ming Emperor Yongle ） , whose lexical entries are arranged in order of the rhythmic entries of Hongwu Zhengyun （The Standard Rhymes in the Reign of Emperor Hongwu）. And under each lexical entry are listed in detail its sound, rhyme and tone, （critical） interpretation, and different styles of Chinese calligraphy （seal, official, regular and cursive）, as well as related information about astronomy, geography, human life, name, literary forms, and other rare pieces of writing. A further investigation shows that the 800-odd Yongle Dadian cites from Shengyin Wenzi Tong a total amount of 328 instances in lexical annotation. This provides adequate evidence of 100 volumes contained in Shengyin Wenzi Tong. According to A History of Ming Dynasty, Shengyin Wenzi Tong is composed of 100 volumes. In the Qing dynasty when Siku Quanshu was under compilation, only 32 volumes of it remained. The other lost 68 volumes feature notes to the form, sound and meaning of each lexical item （character）, which can be confirmed as a rhyming dictionary. Linguistically, therefore, the 100-volume Shengyin Wenzi Tong should be a dictionary combining a pronunciation table and a rhyming book.